“It's a type of sexual assault, it’s deplorable and it’s a growing trend. The old ‘Peeping Tom’ laws do not compare with it,” says Joy Garner on the 21st century violation known as ‘upskirting’.

The Burslem Park councillor is angry that a bill which would have made upskirting illegal was blocked in Parliament by long-serving Tory grandee Sir Christopher Chope.

The 71-year-old MP for Christchurch, in Dorset, shouted down the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill at the second reading stage in the Commons on Friday, prompting derision from his Conservative colleagues and campaigners alike. He was heckled with cries of ‘shame!’ as he deployed his oft-used tactic of opposing backbench private members’ bills by simply shouting an objection.

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His actions meant that, for now, upskirting – the act of taking a photograph underneath a person’s dress or skirt without consent – is not a specific crime. If someone is caught doing it and makes a complaint to the authorities, they can request the image is deleted, but no further prosecution is possible.

Sir Christopher Chope, the MP who blocked the bill in Parliament last week

Victims and police are only able to pursue offences of voyeurism and indecency. A Freedom of Information request revealed police have pursued 78 offences related to upskirting since 2015, and only 11 have led to the alleged offenders being charged.

Labour councillor Joy said: “It’s voyeurism, but standing next to someone and invading their very, very private space. It’s deplorable.”

Although the bill to criminalise upskirting was thought to be uncontentious and expected to go through, it only needs one MP to should ‘objection’ for the legislation to be thrust to the back of the queue for private members’ bills. It has been reported that Sir Christopher did not know what upskirting was, and objected on a matter of principle, because he is opposed to the concept of private members bills in general.

Now Prime Minister Theresa May has reassured the public that a bill outlawing upskirting will be passed soon.

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Conservative councillor Abi Brown, deputy leader of Stoke-on-Trent City Council, who represents Meir Park, said: “It's an abhorrent offence, the fact that anyone would think that is acceptable is beyond belief. The Prime Minister has given her commitment that it should become a criminal offence in it’s own right, as would I.

“As a mother with a daughter, and as a woman, it is simply not acceptable. It’s something that people are more aware of in the big cities like London, where there are much bigger crowds than we have in Stoke-on-Trent.”

The practice of 'upskirting' has become a growing problem

Mrs May said: “Upskirting is an invasion of privacy which leaves victims feeling degraded and distressed. I am disappointed the bill didn’t make progress in the Commons, and I want to see these measures pass through Parliament – with Government support – soon.”

The Voyeurism (Offences) Bill would have seen the worst offenders jailed for two years for taking an image under someone’s clothing. Victims said a specific law prohibiting the craze was necessary as current legislation was often insufficient to prosecute an offender.

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Upskirting victim Gina Martin launched a petition to change the law, after a man used his phones to take photographs up her skirt at a music festival, then sent the image to another man. Despite seizing one of the men’s phone and handing it to police, officers told her they were powerless to act.

Introducing her petition – which has been signed by more than 100,000 people – Gina wrote: “This happens regularly to so many women. We want the law to specify clearly that this is a sexual offence with a victim, by adding this offence to the Sexual Offences Act 2003.”

Gina, who said she was extremely disappointed the bill hadn’t passed, added: “There is a massive community of online people who do this and can get away with it.”